Name: Punk Paradox: A Memoir
Brand: Greg Graffin

Bonus disc

Bonus disc: No

Catalogue number

9780306924583

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Colour

Format multiplier

Download code

Download code: No

Rough Trade Exclusive

Rough Trade Exclusive: No

Extended format

Extended format: No

Format Books US

Hardback

Format detail

Limited edition

Release date

2022-11-08

Signed copies

Signed copies: No

Supplier US

Hachette Book Group

Tax rate US

Sales:8.875

UPC / Barcode

1 / Extended format: No / Hardback / Rough Trade Exclusive: No / Signed copies: No

Artist

Greg Graffin

Genre US

Music

Label US

Hachette

Greg Graffin is an American punk rock musician, college professor, and author. He was born on November 6, 1964 in Racine, Wisconsin. Graffin is best known as the singer and founder of the punk rock band Bad Religion. Apart from his musical career, he has also pursued academic achievements, earning a PhD and working as a Paleontologist at UCLA and Cornell University.

Graffin's diverse talents have allowed him to excel both in the world of music and academia. With Bad Religion, he has made significant contributions to the punk rock genre, influencing many other artists such as Tony Sly, Joey Cape, and Chuck Ragan. His powerful vocals and thought-provoking lyrics have garnered him a dedicated fan base.

In addition to his musical endeavors, Graffin has pursued a successful career in academia. His passion for paleontology led him to earn a PhD while simultaneously touring with Bad Religion. He has conducted research at prestigious institutions like UCLA and Cornell University.

Books of the Year 2022

A historical memoir and cultural criticism of punk rock's evolution, by the legendary singer-songwriter of Bad Religion

Greg Graffin is the lead vocalist and songwriter of Bad Religion, recently described as "America's most significant punk band." Since its inception in Los Angeles in 1980, Bad Religion has produced 18 studio albums, become a long-running global touring powerhouse, and has established a durable legacy as one of the most influential punk rock bands of all time.

Punk Paradox is Graffin's life narrative before and during L.A. punk's early years, detailing his observations on the genre's explosive growth and his band's steady rise in importance. The book begins by exploring Graffin's Midwestern roots and his life-changing move to Southern California in the mid-'70s. Swept up into the burgeoning punk scene in the exhilarating and often-violent streets of Los Angeles, Graffin and his friends formed Bad Religion, built a fanbase, and became a touring institution. All these activities took place in parallel with Graffin's never ceasing quest for intellectual enlightenment. Despite the demands of global tours, recording sessions, and dedication to songwriting, the author also balanced a budding academic career. In so doing, he managed to reconcile an improbable double-life as an iconic punk rock front man and University Lecturer in evolution.

Graffin's unique experiences mirror the paradoxical elements that define the punk genre--the pop influence, the quest for society's betterment, music's unifying power--all of which are prime ingredients in its surprising endurance. Fittingly, this book argues against the traditional narrative of the popular perception of punk. As Bad Religion changed from year to year, the spirit of punk--and its sonic significance--lived on while Graffin was ever willing to challenge convention, debunk mythology, and liberate listeners from the chains of indoctrination.

As insightful as it is exciting, this thought-provoking memoir provides both a fly on the wall history of the punk scene and astute commentary on its endurance and evolution.

Punk Paradox: A Memoir

Books US